Daydreams And Nightshade (DaN #1)

Chapter 30: The talk (pt. 2)

Luna placed the mysterious journals on a shelf she'd recently pronounced her supernatural bookshelf. She'd had to clear away her collection of small crystals sorted by color and an array of trinkets that'd ended up there somehow. She rarely remembered how things came to be where they were.

Not this time though, she decided. She'd keep that one shelf for supernatural books only.

Initially she'd thought it would be too much of a discomfort to go back to that house, but while Noah looked around for the ghost boy Luna had gathered all the journals and books she could find to bring home. Lucius had not looked pleased, but he hadn't argued with her either.

She added the book she'd taken from the late Lord Clausson and arranged them by size before taking a step back. She gave the shelf a nod of approval.

Noah knocked on her door and stuck his head inside. To her relief he looked less pale than before. When they hadn't found the ghost of the boy they assumed he'd been able to move on, and Noah had finally been able to relax. He seemed to be back to normal, aside from a slightly confused look on his face.

"Father wants to talk to us," he said and Luna's heart skipped a beat.

Finally.

Even though her mind had been occupied with other things the past hours, she'd never truly been able to let go of the feeling that her questions would finally have answers, and to think all it had taken was a trip to Wyrmdon.

Lucius was sitting in the parlor, swirling a cup of tea in his hand and staring at it as if it puzzled him.

Luna and Noah sat down in front of him, and he placed the cup down with a deep, exhausted sigh. Luna supposed she could understand his hesitation even without knowing all of it, but he'd have to fill Noah in on the Scourge pact as well. It wasn't an easy conversation to bring up twice in such a short span of time.

Claude entered with tea for the two of them as well and then left, shutting the door firmly so the family could have their conversation in private.

"So..." Lucius turned to look at Noah, who understandably didn't quite comprehend what they were doing there. "... Let's get this out of the way. So after the engagement argument, Luna ran off to Wyrmdon. Specifically to see Ethan for an interrogation."

Noah didn't look any more enlightened and took a sip of his tea, allowing his father to continue.

"But things happened and Luna's been... researching some things, eventually leading to a discovery about my past." Lucius paused to take a deep breath. "I actually... Well, things didn't turn out great for me when I was a child and out of desperation I—I entered a pact. With... a Scourge."

Lucius paused, likely waiting for the words to be processed but to his and Luna's surprise Noah just nodded as if expecting his father to continue further. Luna would've expected some kind of reaction at least. Unless...

"Did you know?" Luna stared at her brother. Lucius stared as well, and Noah shrugged as he averted his gaze.

"No. Or... I didn't know for sure." He licked his lips as the others waited for him to explain. "It was just... When we met the late Lord Clausson back then he had the same feeling around him as you've always had." He looked over at Lucius. "I just sort of put two and two together. I wasn't sure, and I didn't want to assume something like that, so..."

Lucius looked partly horrified and if Luna wasn't mistaken a little relieved.

"I, uh... I want the two of you to know that it was a big mistake. No one should ever agree to a pact with a Scourge. The—The consequences are so severe I wouldn't wish it on anyone." He seemed to consider the latter statement briefly before continuing. "I mean, it would trick you. I... I wouldn't have this position if I hadn't made the deal, and... other things. And... Anyway so many bad things have happened too, and Luna, you saw what it's doing to my mind. It's just... It's not worth it."